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Name
Mohamed
- Bangladesh
Profession
Translator
Question
Salamu Alaykum distinguished Professor. Is there a chance to re-build peaceful coexistence between the Islamic world and the West in light of the fierce media campaigns directed by each side against the other? And when will the West forget 11 September ?
Answer
Salaam Mohammed,
Thank you for your question.
In my opinion it is not correct to say that there is some sort of ‘fierce media campaigns directed by each side against the other’ between the west and the Islamic world.
At least, the Islamic world, if we can designate the Muslim countries by that appellation, is not aware of such campaigns. The governments of the Muslim countries are mostly in agreement with the western idea that there is something called ‘Islamic terrorism’. And they not only give wide publicity to the western propaganda about ‘Islamic terrorism’, but also do whatever they can by way of helping the western governments in fighting the ‘Islamic terrorists’.
But probably you mean the people of the Muslim countries, by the expression, ‘Islamic world’. In which case, these people are mostly deprived of any right to express their views freely, let alone protests. As you may have noticed there were very few instances of protests in the Muslim world against, for instance, the US invasion of Iraq, while several western cities were seething with anger.
What I mean to say is that the conflict is really between the western governments and the free people of the world, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.
And as far as I know, the west does not want to remember Sept 11, though they are making the most of it now. Because, they are painfully aware of the real forces behind Sept 11, as well as of the undercurrents leading to it, even if the picture they successfully presented to the world were true.
There will come a time, when the true picture of Sept 11 emerges and many unanswered questions are answered. But by that time, the damage done would be terrible, and little repair may be possible.
My view is that there is no reason for us Muslims to view the west as a whole as our enemy. There are people in the west who stand for the truth, no matter the cost. Maybe in the future, Islam may have a firmer foothold in the west than in many countries of the east.
Only Allah knows.
Name
Jaweed
- United Kingdom
Profession
Student
Question
How could we really talk about global peace when our beloved Prophet is smeared and attacked by 17 newspapers in a country that was until recently known for tolerance and peaceful attitudes?
Answer
Salaam Jaweed,
Thank you for your question.
I believe that we can always talk about peace, as Islam definitely means Peace. And remember: it is our beloved Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who taught what Islam means.
You know that the Prophet was attacked most brutally when he started preaching Islam; and we know how the Prophet countered such attacks. Of course later the Prophet led campaigns against unbelievers; but do you think that the Prophet was concerned with his own self, when he led these campaigns or with the mission that Allah Almighty had entrusted with him?
From day one, Islam was being attacked; even before the time of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. What was the attitude of the multitudes when all the earlier prophets preached Islam?
We must understand the mentality and the antagonism of several people in the non-Muslim countries; and we must counter that attitude in the most decent and dignified manner possible. And suppose, we who profess to follow the holy Prophet, adopt a very aggressive and arrogant style of responding to these ignorant enemies: If so, do we honor our Prophet, or malign his noble name by our foolish actions?
My point is that even though we are faced with the most belligerent attitude from the non-Muslims, we need to be patient and persevering; we need to show the goodness of Islam in the face of adversity and hostility.
And hence I think, we have more reason now to talk about global peace than ever before.
And Allah knows best.
Name
John
- Spain
Profession
Engineer
Question
How could we Europeans believe that Islam is a peaceful religion while we followed the waves of violence across Europe and specially in France, Spain (March 2004) and Britain (June 2005)?
Answer
Salaam John,
Thank you for your question.
I do not understand what you mean by 'the waves of violence' across Europe.. etc.
I suppose you refer to the protest rallies organized by Muslim organizations with due support from many free-minded non-Muslims in several parts of Europe about certain issues. I understand that the European countries you refer to are democratic countries that allow freedom of expression to such an extent that they can openly caricature a holy prophet. If so, why do you call the Muslim protests "waves of violence"?
Or if you mean for instance, some bomb attacks that unfortunately happened, you have every right to name them as violent acts. But at the same time, please remember the following too:
There used to be "waves of violence" by IRA and the ETA. How come that the good Catholic Christians are involved in these acts of violence and you do not blame Christianity for them?
And I would like to state here clearly that Christianity is a very peaceful religion originally taught by a holy prophet. And no act of violence by Bush or Blair would make me think otherwise; even though both of them claimed that God asked them to attack Iraq. And you know that in that process they murdered about a million people.
My dear brother, Islam is a very peaceful religion, indeed basically the very same religion taught by Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
Kindly learn about Islam, before you declare it to be a violent religion.
Thank you.
Name
Ahmad
- Egypt
Profession
Translator
Question
Who is, in your opinion, responsible for the wars, instability and mischief spreading in our day and age? Upon knowing who is responsible, how to counter them and mainatin the world peace. ? Thanks
Answer
Salaam Ahmad,
Thank you for your question.
I think that no one person or one group of people can be blamed for the wars of the present days.
If we examine history, we can see the tendency among humans to use violence as a means of solving problems. In fact the very purpose of religion is to temper the passions of mankind and make them live a decent and dignified life of peace in this world.
And religion teaches us to serve only Allah instead of the idols man has chosen to worship. This in other words means that man has erected his own self-interest and greed to the level of an idol. He is striving to gratify a blood thirsty god of oppression and plunder and torture.
To give a specific example, we see the US forces going into Iraq bombing that country "back to stone age", thereby destroying that cradle of ancient civilization - Babylonia. Of course in the name of a demon called Saddam whom they groomed to such terrible stature.
Now they continue to occupy that land and oppress its people. They had already devastated Afghanistan earlier, as they had devastated Vietnam in an era before that.
Now the same people want to invade Iran!
All in the name of democracy and wiping out terrorism!
Your question is how to counter them, if we know who is responsible for the atrocities.?
The only way is to organize the people of the world - i.e. to organize international peace movements - to fight against the bloodlust of these enemies of humanity. We have already good Peace activists, whom we can support. Apart from this, we need to pray to Allah Almighty for Peace.
And Allah knows best.
Name
Sarah
- Egypt
Profession
Teacher
Question
Salamu Alaykum,
Global peace starts from early education because it the best times to teach our children about tolerance and equality? Do you see enough educational efforts being exerted in Muslim countries towards that end?
Answer
Salaam Sarah,
Thank you for your question.
You are perfectly right in saying that peace starts from early education; though global peace is a very ambitious project. And indeed the educational system followed in several Muslim countries are terribly handicapped in this matter. Of course, we have our traditional madrasahs teaching religion pure and simple. But mostly they exist in Muslims-only regions. In a country where Muslims and non-Muslims live, how to cope with one another - that is the question. Much tolerance is needed and it can be taught to Muslim children from the Qur'an and the Sunnah. But whether this is done properly is doubtful.
Hope I have answered your question.
Name
Leila
- Algeria
Profession
Question
Salam. The global peace is threatened and challenged in many areas now like Kenya, Nigeria...etc. Why always associate it with Muslims?
Answer
Salaam Leila,
Thank you for your question.
Indeed it is true that certain circles deliberately point an accusing finger at Muslims for threatening global peace, even when Muslims are being murdered in hundreds of thousands in their own countries by the most lethal weapons. But at the same time, one can say that Muslims have a heavy responsibility on their shoulders to show that their religion is Peace. That they are commanded by Allah Almighty to be witnesses to justice and peace. This onus is on them; and unless they do this duty, they are to blame.
Hope you understand
Name
Ahmad
- Egypt
Profession
Editor
Question
What should I, a Muslim individual, do in order to promote peace and at the same time get my usurped rights?
Answer
Salaam Ahmad,
Thank you for your question.
How much can be done as an individual depends on a number of factors such as (1) who you are: i.e how much influence you have got on the world around you; and what are the means at your disposal etc, and
(2) How far you can rise above your own personal interest to strive for general peace etc.
If you can make public speeches and write articles etc you may do so. But then, you should be living in a country that gives you the freedom for that.
You can organize Peace Action; or join others in the same venture and so on.
The point is: whether you have the will and the intention to work for peace. That is what matters most.
And Allah knows best.
Name
Abdul Wahab
- Malaysia
Profession
Question
Can you give an outline of the present threats to world peace?
Answer
Salaam Abdul Wahab,
Thank you for your question.
I shall try to summarize the threats to world peace as I see them:
1. I see them in several international organizations as well as in the policies adopted by several countries in settling their disputes and problems, the adoption and practice of blatant injustice.
Leaders and governments follow double standards in dealing with people, groups and issues. This I think is the most important threat to world peace.
2. Terrorism is another threat.
Here I would point out that terrorism is a word most people and forums fail to define adequately. Several administrations would prefer a definition that would rule out their own unsavory actions from the definition. Anyway, by terrorism I mean those acts that are meant for creating an atmosphere of terror, whether carried out by a person or a group or a government agency.
3. Racism, ethno-centrism and chauvinism.
What I mean is a sort of militant racism and chauvinism deliberately promoted by orchestrated programs usually supported and encouraged by people in power.
4. Neo-colonialist tactics to control lands with high value natural resources.
By this I mean the kind of operations conducted by the "Coalition of the Willing" in Iraq, which leads to invasion, occupation, oppression and plundering of the wealth of a country. The tactics employed may include the use of agent-provocateurs to exacerbate the prevailing differences in society and to encourage internal conflicts, even civil war.
5. Flouting of international bodies, conventions and signed treaties.
As every one knows sometimes open flouting of UN resolutions and even intimidating and coercing UN officials has happened. This is not at all advisable as UN and such international bodies are meant for maintaining Peace.
6. Moral corruption in leaders and decision-makers in high places.
We know that often many of the rulers of the third world countries are easy victims of offers of bribes and other forms of enticement. Their weaknesses are exploited; and even blackmail is used against them to facilitate the plunder of the natural wealth of their homeland.
7. The irrational manufacture and sale of weapons of mass destruction.
Weapons are freely available in the international black market. Even nuclear fuels we are told are obtainable, if the right price is paid, in addition to the "legal" weapons trade pursued by the Big Powers. The multinational companies who manufacture weapons have a stake in the worsening state of affairs of the world. They may persuade countries to buy high cost weapons nobody needs. And occasionally they create tensions between neighbors to increase the demand for their weapons too.
8. The willingness of the media to spread war-hysteria.
This is another sad fact. The world media serve the purpose of the war-mongers, more often than not. Because the media are owned by the same military-industrial complex that manufacture and sell the weapons of mass destruction.
9. And then there is the grinding poverty, disease and starvation that are eating up most people of the world.
I think the above are the major threats faced by the present day world.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Answer
Editor
Finally, we would like to thank our guest for speaking to Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue. We request our readers to join us in the upcoming sessions.
